Codex Labs Launches 'Ditch the Itch' Eczema Trio, Backed by Clinical Trials and Plant-Based Science

Codex Labs, a skintech company harnessing the power of Irish botanicals, has launched its “Ditch the Itch” collection—a trio of Bia topicals and an ingestible designed to manage eczema. The collection includes a lotion, an unscented soap and a supplement aimed at supporting the skin barrier. The name “Bia,” meaning "food" in Gaelic, reflects the brand's holistic approach, combining plant-based ingredients for skin and gut nourishment.

The over-the-counter collection is being used by physicians in their practices, and Codex Labs is beginning to supply their products at medspas as well, says Barbara Paldus, Ph.D., founder of Codex Labs.

The trio underwent a clinical trial, according to a Feb. 25 press release, on subjects with mild to moderate eczema over the course of eight weeks. The results indicated a 93% reduction in eczema in 100% of subjects, 117% increase in hydration in 91% of subjects and an 83% decrease in flakiness for 97% of subjects.

The clinical results demonstrate that an inside-out, skin and gut approach, addresses skin conditions like eczema using topicals and ingestibles in tandem.

The Inside-Out Approach: Gut Health Linked to Skin Health

“Nutrition and gut health are important factors in managing eczema, and research suggests that new treatments may be developed based on gut microbiome studies,” says Paldus. “People with eczema have different gut bacteria than people without eczema, and an imbalance of gut bacteria, called dysbiosis, may contribute to eczema, [making] prebiotics and probiotics helpful in managing eczema in the future.”

The Antu supplement within the “Ditch the Itch” trio provides l-histidine, an amino acid used by the body for filaggrin protein and natural moisturizing factor production. Antu also contains an antioxidant from Patagonia that helps address internal inflammation by combating free radicals production and lipid peroxidation, according to the release.

“L-histidine, an amino acid, supports skin barrier repair and hydration by acting as a natural moisturizing factor, directly contributing to the skin's ability to retain moisture,” Paldus says “By helping maintain the integrity of the skin barrier through its role in protein structure and function within the epidermis, particularly in the production of filaggrin, this makes it beneficial for conditions like eczema where the skin barrier is compromised.”

The antioxidant from Patagonia comprises three gut barrier supporting plants: matico, maqui and murta, Paldus says. 

Matico extract contains flavonoids^a and various types of triterpenoids^a that have shown promise in wound healing of the gut and skin barriers due to their ability to promote fibroblast growth, Palus says. Maqui extract contains anthocyanins^a and flavonoids that help to neutralize free radicals and protect the cellular DNA, while Marta extract contains phenolic compounds including gallic acid, catechin, quercetin, myricetin and kaempferol that possess strong antioxidant activity. 

The Bia Eczema lotion is the BiaComplex 2.0 – a blend of biotech-made cellular extracts derived from terrestrial and marine plants to address hydration.Courtesy of Codex LabsBiaComplex 2.0: Plant-Derived Skincare Technology

Within the Bia Eczema lotion is the BiaComplex 2.0 – a blend of biotech-made cellular extracts derived from terrestrial and marine plants to address hydration. The product increases ceramide and structural protein production to repair the skin barrier while reducing itchiness. 

Paldus says BiaComplex 2.0 is a mix of botanicals with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and skin barrier-restoring effects. The use of sunflower seed oil as the main emollient and penetration enhancer offers skin barrier protection and reduction of trans-epidermal water loss, she adds. 

The BiaComplex also includes comfrey^a extract with allantoin for treating dry, rough, scaly and itchy skin. and rosmarinic acid that decreases skin surface pH to increase ceramide formation and skin hydration.

Haberlea extract in the complex is rich in myconoside^a and has shown to increase synthesis of collagens VI/XVI and elastin, but also stimulate extracellular matrix synthesis to improve skin barrier cohesion but skin elasticity.

Padina extract contains bioactive compounds such as laminarins^a, fucoidans^a and alginic acids that moisturize, preventing dryness and cracking, with wound-healing properties.

The unscented soap within the collection is high in glycerin, is almost neutral in pH and contains carrot and calendula extracts to offer an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory profile to the soap. The soap, Paldus says, did not change the diversity or abundance of the skin microbiome in clinical trials, nor did it strip moisture or sebum. 

“Calendula extract is used both in the Bia Eczema lotion and the unscented soap,” Paldus says. “It is derived from the cells of the marigold plant, [containing] flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamin C and mineral substances [that is] well-known for its anti-inflammatory, wound healing and antioxidant benefits.” 

Footnote: 

^aFlavonoids: A group of plant compounds that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and potential health-promoting effects.

^aTriterpenoids: Chemical compounds found in plants, known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and potential therapeutic properties.

^aAnthocyanins: A type of flavonoid pigment found in plants, responsible for red, blue and purple colors, and are known for their antioxidant properties.

^aComfrey: A flowering plant known for its medicinal properties, particularly its ability to promote healing and reduce inflammation when used topically.

^aMyconoside: A bioactive compound found in certain fungi and plants, known for its potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

^aLaminarins: A group of polysaccharides found in brown algae, known for their antioxidant and immune-boosting properties

^aFucoidans: sulfated polysaccharides found in brown seaweed, known for their anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and immune-boosting properties